2013 Highlights

We celebrated 75 years of Bolton Central Library at Le Mans Crescent, and 160 years of the library service in Bolton.

We were awarded a grant of £115,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the re-development of the Egyptology Gallery.

Over 2000 children across Bolton took part in 2013’s ‘Creepy House’ themed Summer Reading Challenge.

Photo: The Bolton News

We unveiled a new permanent display of Nat Lofthouse memorabilia in the Bolton Lives Gallery.

Bolton showed off its wealth of creative talent with over 270 entries into the 5th

Open Art exhibition.

We worked with libraries across the North of England to celebrate Try Reading and the Rugby League World Cup 2013.

We celebrated the 260th anniversary of Samuel Crompton’s birth.

The Aquarium successfully renewed its zoo licence for the next 7 years for the wonderful freshwater fish collection from all over the world.

Photo: Richard Gaskill

Photographer Richard Gaskill won the Humphrey Spender John Marriot Scholarship for 2013 and was the subject of an exhibition ‘Sports, Spectacles and Spectators’.

We celebrated the summer Festival of Archaeology with a range of events including talks, finds days and fairs. Look out for more in 2014!

Our community libraries were awash with family activities including scarecrows, board games, object handling, drama, Summer Reading Challenge ‘Creepy House’ activities and more. Who says libraries have to be quiet?!

Our annual Smithills Hall summer Garden Party attracted over 1000 visitors, with sell out ghost tours in October and November and a wonderful Christmas performance from the Bennett Ladies Choir.

We launched our new website www.boltonlams.co.uk. Pop by for a browse if you haven’t already!